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The New Permanent Secretary at the Ministry
of Health
Ms. Caroline Rwivanga Kayonga was appointed the Permanent Secretary
at the Ministry of Health following a cabinet decision of June
09, 2006. She replaces Dr Ben E. Karenzi who served the Ministry
from October 2004 to June 2006.
Ms. Rwivanga Kayonga has worked as a procurement specialist with
different government projects. Before joining the Ministry of
Health, she worked with the Ministry of Gender, different government
projects funded by the World Bank and more recently with the Human
and Institutional Capacity Development Agency (HIDA).
Her new appointment as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry
of Health puts her in charge of coordinating all technical and
administrative activities in the Ministry to ensure delivery of
quality health services. She believes that monitoring and proper
coordination of the set goals is useful in guiding strategy and
policy implementation. She is guided by the motto, “a healthy
population is a productive population.”
Mrs. Rwivanga Kayonga holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Makerere
University (Social Sciences) and an MBA from Webster University,
USA. She is married with three children.
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Rwanda is awarded the East African EPI Achiever’s
Award 2005
Every year, East African EPI (Expand Programme on Immunization)
managers meet to assess performances in member countries. This
year, the EPI managers meeting was held in Mombasa, KENYA from
5th to 7th April, 2006 with the objective of providing a forum
for technical discussions, briefings and information sharing of
in-country EPI activities among countries supported by WHO and
UNICEF and their partners. It is on the occasion of this meeting
that Rwanda was awarded the East African EPI Achiever’s
Award 2005 for achieving 95% of annual coverage for DPT3( Diphteria-Pertussis-Tetanos)
vaccine.
According to statistics, the immunization coverage in the year
2005 varied between 82% and 134% in the country districts except
for Bushenge which covered 78%. The district which achieved the
greatest coverage (134%) was Kibirizi in Southern Province. For
measles vaccine, 36 districts out of 40 (90%) achieved an annual
coverage of more than 80% while in 2004 only 30 districts out
of 39 (77%) reached this performance. Actually, the World Health
Organisation recommends average immunization coverage of 80% and
Rwanda exceeded this average with an annual covered of 95%. This
coverage shows much effort on the National EPI’s side because
in 2004, the annual immunization coverage was 89%.
Dr Fidèle Ngabo, the EPI Manager in the Ministry of Health,
explained that this success was made possible by the implementation
of the Reaching Every District (RED) strategy, the financing of
EPI revival micro plans at the district level, the reinforcement
of EPI staff, a monthly progress report of vaccination activities
in districts, a regular supervision using supervision check lists,
performance indicators and feed back to the district, weekly follow-up
meetings at EPI head office and a good coordination system with
EPI partners.
For more information on the National Expand Programme
on Immunization, please contact:
Dr Fidele Ngabo, the EPI Manager, Phone: (250) 584144,
Email: fidele.ngabo@moh.gov.rw
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Rwanda wins the “Spirit of PEPFAR”
award
On June 27, 2006, the US Embassy celebrated the “Spirit
of PEPFAR” award to Rwanda. This award was given in recognition
of effort in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
The implementation of the President’s Emergency Plan for
AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) programme to Rwanda began in 20004. PEPFAR
achievements include expansion of access to antiretroviral drugs,
prevention of HIV infection from mother to child, counselling
and testing on HIV and improving health national systems for prevention,
treatment and care.
Speaking at the occasion, the US Ambassador and Chairman of PEPFAR
team for Rwanda, Michael ARIETTI noted that even though there
are tremendous achievements by PEPFAR, there are still many challenges
that need urgent attention by all partners.
The Minister of State in charge of HIV/AIDS and other Epidemics,
Dr Innocent NYARUHIRIRA expressed gratitude and satisfaction to
the relationship existing between both countries (the US and RWANDA),
especially the technical support extended to the Government of
Rwanda in the health sector and specifically in the fight against
HIV/AIDS. He urges all partners to work hand in hand in the implementation
of the national HIV/AIDS strategic plan and particularly in the
struggle against HIV/AIDS among the youth.
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Health schemes step up services to poor people
After a pilot phase undertaken in the former health districts
of Kabutare (Butare), Kabgayi (Gitarama) and Byumba (Byumba) in
1999, health schemes are now available across the country.
In order to provide better services to the people and, especially
to the most disadvantaged communities, health schemes are now
providing a full package of services to the needy people through
payment of their membership card, giving them access not only
to basic health care at the health centre, but also to services
at district and referral hospitals.
Care provision at health centres and district hospital is funded
by the solidarity fund in support of district health schemes.
Services at referral hospitals are made available through the
national solidarity fund.
The average level of participation in health schemes at national
level by May 2006 was 46.5%. The Western province has the highest
percentage, with 59.5%, followed by the Eastern province with
48.1%, the Northern province with 44.9%, the Southern province
with 41.8% and finally, the Municipality of Kigali City with the
lowest level of 38.5%.
Although health schemes have made significant achievements in
recent years, they are also facing some challenges, such as the
quality of care at some health facilities, the large financial
gap between the cost of health services and members’ contributions,
the increasing number of poor people, the lack of a reliable data
collection system on membership and renewed membership, as well
as the problem of overcharging by care providers.
For more information on health schemes, please contact:
Mr. Hertilan Inyarubuga, Coordinator, Health Scheme Technical
Support Unit (CTAMS), Tel.: 504306; Email: ihertilan2@yahoo.fr
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Great Lakes Countries join efforts to curb
the spread of HIV/AIDS
On Friday June 23, 2006, the Great Lakes Initiative on Aids (GLIA)
was officially launched at Hotel Intercontinental in Kigali. Rectified
in New York by the six member countries (Burundi, Democratic Republic
of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda), GLIA was established
to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS.
The Prime Minister Bernard MAKUZA who was the guest of honor
at the launch noted GLIA should act as a forum for sharing experiences
and opportunities in the fight against Aids in the Great Lakes
region, adding that the success of GLIA will be to the benefit
of the population.
According to the Director of Programmes at the GLIA Secretariat,
Dr Eugene Rurangwa, GLIA aims at reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS
among the mobile populations like refugees, the internally displaced,
transporters, such as long distance truck drivers as well s assisting
people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) grouped in associations to
ensure networking.
To strengthen regional efforts and resource utilization, all
GLIA partners will participate in an expanded and co-ordinated
response, through sharing of research findings.
The World Bank, the Joint UN programme on Aids (UNAIDS), the
United Nations High Commission for Refugees(UNHCR) and the World
Health Organization (WHO) are among major GLIA partners. GLIA
headquarters will be based in Kigali.
For more information contact:
The GLIA Secretariat on Tel: (250) 587345
P.O. Box 4320 Kigali, RWANDA
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Rwanda Marks the World no Tobacco Day
On June 23, 2006, the Ministry of Health in collaboration with
the World Health Organisation commemorated the World no Tobacco
Day. This year’s no Tobacco Day theme is “Tobacco:
deadly in any form or disguise”. This slogan aims at sensitizing
smokers and decision-makers on the extremely harmful effects of
using tobacco products and the need for a strict regulation.
Activities to mark this day were characterized by a day of reflection
between Ministry of Health officials, the civil society and the
media on the importance of sensitizing the population on the danger
of smoking. At the end of the day of reflection, recommendations
were issued that include among others evaluation the impact of
tobacco control’s initiative in the country, a regular sensitization
of Rwandans on the danger of smoking, speeding up tobacco relating
law and its immediate implementation, availing spots prohibiting
smoking in public areas and participation of journalists in tobacco
control activities.
WHO statistics indicate that the total number of smokers worldwide
is One Billion Three Hundred Million of people (1,300,000,000)
and tobacco relating deaths every year are estimated at Five Million(5000,000).
And this number is likely to increase to Ten Million towards the
year 2020 and 70 % of tobacco related deaths will be in developing
countries.
Speaking at the occasion, the WHO country representative, Dr
Nsue Milang said that nowadays, nicotine addiction is the second
most current cause of death worldwide. He therefore called on
governments to not only ratify the Framework Convention on Tobacco
Control but also to fully put it in application.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Mrs Caroline
Rwivanga Kayonga who spoke on behalf of the Minister, emphasized
the consequences of smoking on both the smoker and his environment.
She reminded the public of the Ministry of Health Ministerial
decree that prohibit smoking in public areas. The Permanent Secretary
urges everyone especially parents to give up smoking so that the
youth may follow their example.
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